Bumping the Wrong Passenger

Someone yelled, "Darryl Bishop, you heartless quack! Get your ass out here!"

I yanked the door open.

A bucket of red paint was splashed across the door, dripping down along the cracks.

Barney stood outside with several aggressive-looking security guards in airline uniforms, blocking my entrance.

The hallway was already packed with curious neighbors, whispering and pointing.

"Unbelievable. He always seemed like such an honest young man. Who knew he'd turn out to be such a corrupt doctor?"

"Exactly. For them to come here and throw paint at his door, he must've done something awful!"

Barney grew even more smug when he heard the surrounding murmurs.

"Take a good look, everyone! That's the quack right there! He took the patient's money but refused to do his job, even deliberately delaying treatment until the patient ended up in critical condition!

"And now he's hiding at home playing dead. Heartless doctors like this should be locked up!"

His face was twisted with malice. Clearly, the Castilles had pushed him into a corner, and he wanted to turn me into the scapegoat so he could claim credit.

"You think hiding will save you? Even if you have to crawl, you're going to Jorleton today!"

I glanced at the paint all over the floor and was about to call the police when heavy footsteps echoed from the stairwell.

Several bodyguards in black suits roughly pushed the onlooking neighbors aside.

Louis walked into the hallway, looking down his nose at me.

Barney immediately rushed forward to greet him. "Mr. Pomeroy, look, I found him! Ms. Castille's treatment definitely won't be delayed any further!"

Louis didn't even spare him a glance. He walked straight up to me and asked, "Dr. Bishop, done with your tantrum?"

He pulled out a check, holding it between his fingers and waving it. "Six million dollars. Double the price. Come with me right now, and the Castilles will let bygones be bygones."

I didn't even look at the check.

"Not interested," I spat out coldly.

"Don't push it!" Louis snarled, his expression instantly turning dark as he dropped all pretense.

"Do you really think the Castille family is someone you can afford to get on the wrong side of?"

He leaned in slightly, his voice low but filled with bone-chilling coldness. "If you refuse to go, I'll drag you into the OR even if I have to tie you up. And if you refuse to pick up the scalpel, the Castilles have plenty of ways to make you do it.

"I heard that your father is currently staying at Resuvial Nursing Home."

My whole body trembled. They had sunk so low as to track down Dad's whereabouts!

"Try touching my dad and see what happens!" I snarled, clenching my teeth and staring him down.

"As long as it can save Ms. Castille, there's nothing the Castille family wouldn't do."

Louis sneered arrogantly. "You'd better be smart and start packing your things right now. Otherwise, I guarantee your father will be kicked out of the nursing home today and left to wander the streets."

The surrounding bodyguards stepped forward immediately, grabbing hold of me, while Barney chimed in gleefully from the side.

"Did you hear that? Still trying to put on airs in front of the Castilles? Guess you won't learn until it's too late."

Looking at their smug faces, I suddenly laughed.

Louis frowned, irritation flashing across his face. "What are you laughing at?"

"I'm laughing at how stupid you all are."

I stopped smiling and turned to look at the still smug Barney.

"You think I don't want to save Kellie? Even if I go now, she still won't be able to make it."

Louis' expression instantly fell. He grabbed my collar and demanded, "What do you mean?"